How long have you owned your boat?

[Shuggy]

Chatting to a friend at the weekend. We (Mrs Shuggy and I) are now in our 17th year with the same boat. I don’t think we’ll ever sell her (boat, not Mrs Shuggy*) until we give up sailing or hand the boat onto our children. My friend suggested that not many people keep their boats for 17+ years. Ours is a 70s plastic ‘classic’. Anyone else in the same position? Marisca/awol beats us by some margin I suspect. Anyone else out there who can better 17 years with no intention to move on?

We’re now at the point where we’ve replaced various bits of kit for the 3rd/4th time and it’s probably time for a major refit but I am some way off retiring and using my own labour!

*Sensible offers accepted.

 

[dombuckley]

"Big" boat: 28 years. My faithful old GP14: 42 years. No intention of selling either. Luckily the cabin boy loves them too, wants to take them on when I get too doddery, so looks like they'll be staying in the family.

 

[Romeo]

Since my boat was built for my Grandfather in 1935 I am going to say 91 years.

I am shortly going to buy another one, with the intent of heavy use and selling again in 5 years. Grampa's boat will be retained and used mostly for winter sailing. Want to get her through to 100 years before the bonfire.

 

[Poignard]

I had my Twister for 27 years.

 

[Stemar]

We kept our first boat, a Snapdragon 24, for 18 years until Madame started to find the companionway difficult. Our current Catalac - 3 years - will be our last boat unless those six little numbers come up (maybe I should buy a ticket, which would improve the odds, though not by much)

 

[Baggywrinkle]

Current boat 17 months and this will probably be my last, took me 2 years to find, one before that 12 years, one before that 10 years. My dad had 4 boats from the early 70s until around 2022, but nothing newer than 1972 ... my brother bought his own boat instead of taking part ownership of my dads .... it was old, and not the kind of boat my brother wanted for his family and was sold shortly after.

 

[MoodySabre]

20 years. It’ll see me out.

 

[Sumara of Weymouth]

I've had Sumara of Weymouth for 35 years with no intention of selling. The boat still feels new to me!

 

[Momac]

Only 11 years for me. The time has passed by a lot quicker than I would like.

 

[Tradewinds]

34 years. But I think this will be my last year as custodian of my beautiful Nic39 Rose of Wight.
She took me and my family safely around the world.
Unfortunately old age has caught up with me.

 

[Rappey]

34 years for me. Bought a hull that i could motor around, built a boat. Not sure if I've ever finished it ..

 

[johnalison]

First boat, a Cirrus 2 yrs, sold because the children grew out of it. Then Mystere 14yrs, Sadler 29 12yrs, and current HR34 25 yrs.

 

[Leslie frank]

21 years... still going strong

 

[ProDave]

There is a guy in our harbour still sailing the Leisure 17 that he bought new in the 1970's

 

[Stemar]

34 years for me. Bought a hull that i could motor around, built a boat. Not sure if I've ever finished it ..

Can one ever finish a boat?

 

[Concerto]

Concerto has been mine for 11 years. She will be my last boat until I swallow the anchor in about 7 to 8 years time. She will remain in above the usual condition for boats of her 1980 vintage. In the meantime I am getting the benefit of all the renovations and improvements. Then when the time comes to sell she will be easy to sell but difficult to find a new owner who will continue to look after her in the same way.

 

[Bobc]

Bought my boat new in 2003. Still got it after 23 years, and I can't see me selling anytime soon.

 

[doug748]

My boat ownership ledger looks like this:

1) 6 months
2) 10 years
3) 30 years (sold last year)
4) 6 months
5) 4 months - to date (will probably sell it at the end of the season and move on, heigh ho)

.